The hectors, or, The false challenge a comedy written in the year MDCLV, the scene, London.

with you. Mr. Constable, I charge you for to seize upon her.

Cast.

Hold, hold.

Iust.

Why?

Cast.

This is my reason;

Discovers himself.

Was not I the man that married you?

Had.

Nay, Sir, it is a plaine case, yours was cleerly no mar∣riage.

Iust.

Nay, then I see I am cozen'd.

Had.

You are indeed, Sir, I hope, for we have taken a great deal of paines in vaine else; I am sure we have been plotting this same business any time this month.

Iust.

Well, I do yeeld my selfe cozened, and am glad it is no worse.—

And now Mr. Had land, I see you have wit to get an Estate, I hope you will have wit to keep it. You are one, I must confesse, of whose good parts I have heard divers times, and you shall shortly find, you have no more then I can well afford you.

Know.

And now, Sir, here the Gentleman hath made a shift to come hither in a Coach, that I was supposed to have killed.

Wel.

And here I do acquit him.—

I must confesse, I had a challenge from him; but going for to meet him, I met with some other Gentleman, betweene whom and my selfe there chanced a certaine quarrel, in which I got the wound.

Know.

I challenged you! Certainly.—

Lov.

Sir, do not wonder any longer, for I will resolve the doubt.—

This Gentleman was this afternoon to go to a certaine place, whi∣ther, if he had gone, I had beene for ever lo••t; wherefore I upon the sudden, not thinking of a better way, sent him that Chal∣lenge in your name, only thereby to hinder his going,—for which, Sir, I beg your pardon.

Cris.

Which I durst warrant, if it be but for my sake, you shall ob∣tain.

Know.

Madam, you are so far from wanting pardon for what you have done, that to you I owe whatsoever happinesse I do expect in this same Lady.

Lov.

If, Sir, you owe any thing to me, I shall look for sa∣tisfaction only in this same Gentleman, for whose sake I did what I did.

Wel.

I shall be, Lady, so far from quitting others scores, that what I owe you on mine own account, while I live, I shall never clear.

Pat.

Well, Mr. Had-land, I cannot but blush when I think

what a part you have made me act to day.

Had.

Thou hast done that this day (my Dear) that will eternally oblige me.

Slur.

Madam, I hope you will pardon what I said today, knowing to what end it was spoken; for there is not that Lady in the world of whom I have more honourable thoughts, then I have of you.

Pat.

I am sure I never gave you cause to have other.

Enter two Gentlemen.

Iust.

How now Sirs? What would you have?

1.

Sir, we come to demand your assistance against a couple of knaves that are here, that this afternoon have cheated us of almost a hundred pounds.

Iust.

Which be they?

2.

Here is one.—

1.

And this is the other.

Iust.

Have they cheated you, say you?

1.

Yes that they have.

Iust.

What say you, Gentlemen?

Slur.

Your Worship (I hope) by experience knowes, that such a thing may not be altogether impossible.

Iust.

Well, Gentlemen will you refer the businesse to me, upon that condition, that I do please you all?

1.

I, Sir, upon that condition; but we shall not be pleased without our money.

Iust.

Why, then I order you to give them their money.

Slur.

But then we shall not be pleased.

Iust.

Yes, but you shall: for now I am resolved upon a design, which I hope will be as good as building Hospitals.

Gentlemen, by the carriage of this businesse, I see you have more in you then ever I did take you for to have. And although you have been wild in your time, yet now I believe you would know how to value an estate.

First therefore, as for you Mr. Had- Land, what you have gotten by this device from me, I freely will let you enjoy.

And for these Gentlemen, I will give them that which shall maintaine them like themselves without these shifts.

To be short, Gentlemen, I have an Estate and never a child, and if you henceforward do nothing that may displease me more then this your dayes work hath done, I shall not be wanting in any thing that you may expect from a father. What, doth this please you?

Slur.

Beyond our expectation.

Cast.

We, Sir, shall never be able to deserve this.

Iust.

Come, come, you have deserved it already.

Cast.

What strange accidents have hapned this day!

Enter Goosquil, and Whispers to the Iustice.

Iust.

O I, 'tis true, I did not think of it.

Mr. Hadland, there is a Supper ready within, which I did cause to be provided as for my Wedding Supper; but since you have got my Bride, you must e'en take the Supper too.

Gentlemen, will you please to walk?

Old Cris.

Then here we do begin the round; tomorrow my daugh∣ter and this Gentleman say, you must be at my house.

Wel.

The next day after I do invite you.

La.

And I the next day after that.

Iust.

March then in, and as you your Weddings make, In the same order now your places take.

Exeunt.

FINIS.